Letters

We live in a world of constrained resources and excessive consumption; unfortunately, too many people seem to be unaware of this crisis or simply do not care, including our local governments.

The Town and Village of East Hampton’s very ineffective recycling and nonexistent composting systems are disrespectful of resource constraints and demonstrate a lack of understanding, awareness and/or concern by local elected officials as to why recycling and composting should be a priority in our communities.

We need to develop a coordinated plan for local curbside recycling and composting. This program would create less garbage while also promoting recycling and composting by making it easier for all to do. Additionally, for example, less air pollution would be generated by the excessive burning of fossil fuels caused by hundreds of individual weekly trips to the local recycling center.

I approached the East Hampton Village Board about these issues last June and the East Hampton Town Board last July, and to date nothing has been done. The village seems to be struggling with the essential task of placing recycling containers on village streets where there are garbage cans, and still needs to address the recycling situation at Main Beach. The town has failed to place recycling containers at their shoreline parking lots, or work to effectively and efficiently operate their recycling center.

The Earth’s constrained resources require that local elected officials take immediate action to promote the reuse of our resources. Effective recycling programs are a function of local government promotion and support, and are known to create local employment.

We in the “United States Of Excess” (Robert Paarlberg) need to not only recycle and compost but to minimize our consumption.

Randy Johnston

East Hampton